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Norton Writes USPS Postmaster General Over Wholesale Reports of Unreliable Mail Delivery, Poor Customer Service Across the District

Dec 21, 2018

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released Norton’s letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Megan Brennan regarding widespread complaints of inconsistent and failed mail delivery and a lack of USPS responsiveness in the District of Columbia. Norton said she is considering holding a forum with the Postmaster General and D.C. residents to help the community understand the best way to get responses quickly and resolve delivery issues.

In her letter, Norton wrote, “We have learned from constituents and from several members of the D.C. Council that there is unreliable service in the Eckington, Anacostia, Cleveland Park and Michigan Park communities. I understand customers often do not even receive their mail at all on certain days. The most common complaints include late evening deliveries, failed delivery and damaged mail. Especially troubling is the repeated lack of responsiveness by station managers to customers. I understand that phones are frequently not answered when my constituents call to make complaints, and, when they go to the post offices themselves, they are not allowed to speak to managers or are told they are unavailable and managers do not return messages.”

I am writing because a number of my constituents throughout the District of Columbia have been experiencing difficulties receiving their mail consistently and properly.

We realize that from time to time there will be mishaps in delivery of mail. However, there appear to be recurrent problems in all four quadrants of our city. For example, we have learned from constituents and from several members of the D.C. Council that there is unreliable service in the Eckington, Anacostia, Cleveland Park and Michigan Park communities. I understand customers often do not even receive their mail at all on certain days. The most common complaints include late evening deliveries, failed delivery and damaged mail.

Especially troubling is the repeated lack of responsiveness by station managers to customers. I understand that phones are frequently not answered when my constituents call to make complaints, and, when they go to the post offices themselves, they are not allowed to speak to managers or are told they are unavailable and managers do not return messages.

We are considering holding a forum with you and our constituents to help the community understand the best way to quickly get responses and change.

I ask that you respond to this letter within 30 days, outlining how the United States Postal Service plans to address these concerns. I look forward to working with you on these important issues.